I have a confession. I'm a guilt-ridden mom. I know this insanity has to stop, but I can't help it. I'm conflicted. Little One started camp today and I don't know how I feel about it.I'm excited for her. In fact, I'm super excited. She gets to spend a few weeks this Summer hanging out with her cohorts, learning new things, and having fun.The other part of me feels guilty … [Read more...]
When Blogging Was Just Blogging
There was a time when I used to blog for the love of blogging. I moved to an island in the middle of one of the Great Lakes and needed an outlet to ward off isolation (though I was in love with the Island, I missed my loved ones) and to share my new life with my friends and family far away. I blogged about my life on an island and in a small rural Northern Ontario town. Did … [Read more...]
Taking The High Road ~ Things We Teach Our Children
Photo via Google ImagesIt's no surprise that children learn from observation. They watch our every move. They hear our words, despite sometimes having selective hearing.In essence, we as parents really are our children's role models and their first teachers in life. This is why how we behave in front of our children is so very important. How we behave is a large part of what … [Read more...]
All a Mess
In the wake of the Newtown school shootings, I find myself crying a few times a day. I didn't know any of the families who lost their precious children. I didn't know the teachers and school staff who were killed. Does it really matter? All I know is that precious lives were taken. Lives that had just begun to flourish.I heard the news on Friday afternoon when my social media … [Read more...]
Sadness
The past few months have been fettered with highs and lows. Lots of happiness and lots of sadness. Incredible, heart-wrenching sadness.For the most part, we've been plugging along and letting our busy daily lives consume us and help us temporarily forget the sense of loss and the pain we are all feeling. Most days are tear-free because of just how busy we've been,On … [Read more...]
I Don’t Want to go to School Anymore
All Summer, Little One was anxiously awaiting the commencement of Junior Kindergarten. She was SO excited to be going to school.Week one, and she was really happy and loved school, her teacher, her friends, the bus ride, and being able to go off on her own like a big kid.Week two, and everything went downhill. She was afraid of the "big kids" and this fear of being hurt has … [Read more...]
Work From Home Debacles
It was a day like any other. The sunshine was streaming through my office window, the breeze blowing the curtains to and fro, and the birds chirping outside on a warm sunny day.Okay, it was more like the sun was casting a glare on my computer screen, the wind was blowing through my window, making all my papers fly all over the office, and the birds were so noisy that they were … [Read more...]
She Said WHAT?!?!
Rushing in the morning on an already hazy, humid mosquito filled morning, I could feel myself getting tense. Little One was dawdling - stopping every few feet to pick up a white-headed dandelion (which she calls "giant wish flowers"). I scooped her up, put her in her car seat, hopped into the driver's seat, and drove up our lane way.Little One: Mine too! Mine too! Mine too! … [Read more...]
Daddy Did It!
Our three year old has got the craziest hair I have ever seen. Do you remember reading Mr. Mugs when you were in elementary school? Well, her hairdo reminds me of Mr. Mugs. No matter what we do, her hair is always in her face.The resemblance is uncanny! Don't you think? She looks like that adorable sheepdog I used to read about when I was a kid. Pretty little clips or … [Read more...]
NaBloPoMo Day 27: Honesty vs. Being Obnoxious and Rude
There is a difference, people.I had a conversation with someone today about a certain FoodNetwork Canada TV show. The person I spoke with quickly said, "Oh, that doesn't interest me at all" and proceeded to talk about something completely different. This was after about twenty minutes of me listening to this person's gripes and grievances. I was just excited about this show and … [Read more...]
NaBloPoMo Day 26: What Ever Happened To…
Have you ever caught yourself thinking, "What ever happened to that really good friend I had when I was a kid?" Where is she now? What's she doing? I wonder if she still lives in the same neighbourhood we grew up in or did she leave the city?How about, "I wonder what ever happened to that ex-boyfriend I had way back when I was a naive, foolish young adult?"These things don't … [Read more...]
NaBloPoMo Day 17: Absolutes
I often wonder what the obsession with absolutes is. Why are people so preoccupied about what is absolutely right or absolutely wrong in their opinion? It is really interesting and something I am curious about.I recently wrote a guest post on the Canadian Beef blog about my life as a farmer's wife. It was how I went from city to country, and vegetarian to omnivore.A commenter … [Read more...]
NaBloPoMo Day 6: Prompts
Not even a complete week into NaBloPoMo and I'm already delving into the NaBloPoMo prompts. With BlogHer, they have posted prompts for each day and weekends are for free-writing. I've been participating in NaBloPoMo for past few years, and I have never needed a prompt. This year, however, I'm finding it a challenge to come up with things to write about.For those participating … [Read more...]
NaBloPoMo Day 4: Time
As a child, I never thought much about it.As a teenager, I thought I had lots of it.As an adult, I realize I need more of it.Time.Because our days are so busy and chaotic, I rarely have time to sit down and reflect. It just hit me today that our "baby" is going to be three years old a week from today. Three years old! How did three years just fly by before my eyes? How did … [Read more...]
NaBloPoMo Day 3: Stress
ArtsyTeacherMom: Holy ****! Were you always this stressed out when you lived in the city? You're a pretty high strung person, eh?Me: Hmm...Not really. At least I don't think so. In the city, I just commuted to work, taught all day, went to the gym, had dinner, and did the same thing over again the next day. Now, I have to take care of every fricken thing in this house, raise a … [Read more...]